Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! The pictures in this book were not ideal for a child. The storyline was going nowhere fast

First of all, the goats are so adorable and goofy looking, love the art style. My nephew absolutely loved the rhythming that was going on and the funny signs that were on the pages was a nice add-on. Just wished the text was a bit bigger in size because there was so plenty of blank space for it, just so the words are more visible for the kids.

Five little goats want to bring their granny flowers and a cake for her birthday, but when they see a troll blocking the bridge, they decide to go by canoe. The goats prepare, making their cake, “They grated and stirred, and it never occureed, that a trip doen the river was highly absurd.” The five goats teavel the river halfhazardly past a beaver’s dam and through rapids. When the cake topples over, the goats have to think quickly and decide what they should do next. The digital art is rendered in a painterly look, with deep, rich colors adding depth to each page. The art adds to the humorous tone of the book with fun drawings and silly signs seen in the journey. The words are occasionally arranged in different ways to add to the illustrations and story, guiding readers’ eyes in specific directions. As the goats make it to granny’s, they learn what she wanted most for her birthday — and that it isn’t the best idea to judge a troll based on appearances.

We loved this one! The rhymes were so cute and clever and the illustrations were great. We loved the message that sometimes plans change and remaining calm and patient is a good thing! Also what a cute little twist at the end with the troll. We would absolutely have this book on our shelves at home and gift to other parents as well!

This book was so cute! I really enjoyed the art style and the lyrical flow of the writing. The story was well thought out and even had a fun twist at the end. I would definitely recommend to and buy this for someone else.

my 4 y/o and 2 y/o loved this book so much it made them laugh hard.

as a mom i find the story really good because it's a toddler retelling of the billy goat’s gruff tale! it was so much fun but the illustration for me was kind of off-putting but would i buy it for my toddler? definitely!

3.5/5

Cute spin on the classic Billy Goat’s Gruff tale. The illustrations are a bit messy for my taste, but the story is cute

This is a very fun and engaging read. It's very exciting with the rhyming language and the art is cute

Goats Agloat was adorable! My 5 year old enjoyed it and it reminded us of his favorite series Bunnies on a Boat. He liked that the goats ended up being grandma’s gift at the end. He liked the pictures and thought it was really funny. We both loved the rhyming pattern. It was bouncy and upbeat.

My son loved this book! Such a fun, cute book with a sweet adventure that any child will love to listen to & look at. The illustrations/graphics kept him entertained, the story was easy to follow and he asked to read it again immediately which is an A+ book in our house!

My kids 5 & 7 absolutely loved this. The rhyming was a hit, and the story was so sweet. The illustrations were wonderful.

What a wonderful and entertaining book! The words flow like lyrics to a children’s song with perfect rhythm and rhyme. The illustrations are amazing, full of detail and fun. I love the different fonts and onomatopoeias. It’s like the words are playing throughout the pages.

Sure to be a favorite for kids and adults alike.

Featured in a reads with grandma session. . . with grnd-kid(7of10)

In our usual Tuesday zoom today we dedicated some time to read, review and discuss Goats Afloat in our reading session. It was bouncy, bright and very rhyme-y. . .and we totally enjoyed it. Our method of reading books is to read to each other out-loud, each participant reading a page. This book was a delight to read with its rhyming rhythms interlaced with puns - both written and drawn.

Artwork with a sense of humor informs and enhances the darling story of 5 grandgoats going to visit Granny Goat on her birthday. The day is challenged by a troublesome road block - a bridge troll. Problems present, unplanned events risk the entire day's success. What to do??! Read the book! That's what to do. . .!

Our review - 5 stars for Lezlie Evans' awesome story - laid thick with a Seussy Sway - and all the stars for all the Julia Patton's fun tidbits on each and every page.

Pub date: 05.06.2025
*A sincere thank you to Lezlie Evans, Julia Patton, Two Lions and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #GoatsAfloat #NetGalley

Oh my daughter thought this book was just too funny. The giggles seeing goats in a boat was heartwarming, such a fun read and definitely a favorite of ours to add to the shelf. A great story about when things go wrong and working together to find a solution.

Goats Afloat, written by Lezlie Evans and illustrated by Julia Patton, is an absolutely delightful children's book with a subtle lesson. It's definitely a book that everyone will want to have on their child's bookshelf.
Evans' narration is lyrical and fun, and Patton's illustrations are delightful, with sweet details and colours sure to catch every child's eye. The adventure the five goats go on in their efforts to get to their grandmother's in time for her birthday keep the story flowing, not unlike the lovely river featured on the book's pages.
I highly recommend this book for everyone in the family! Thank you for the ARC of #GoatsAfloat to #NetGalley.

An absolute hit, this story is funny and full of fun asides. Whether it is the mix of narration, world details or speech (which when read aloud in a goat voice is perfection!) this book has it all. Quirky, whimsical illustrations cover every inch and the variation in how these are laid out make every page fresh! Lovely morals leave a sweet taste: family being more important than material things and not to judge others based on stereotypes/first appearances.

If I were a child I know I would be asking to be read this book again and again!

Free proof copy provided by Netgalley.

This book was adorable! My son loved the goats and thought the book was really fun. The story kept him engaged. The text is rhythmic and funny. The illustrations are cute with a touch of whimsy. I especially enjoyed the troll! I think young readers will really enjoy this book!

Such a fun and cute book! I was happily surprised, especially by the ending. This book teaches a great lesson about having a positive mindset and using/developing problem-solving skills. The band of goats in this story set a great example for young readers, and will inspire them to work through problems rather than trying to avoid them. The ending of the book also pushes the idea of friendship, and (sort of) asking for help when you need it, but I won't spoil it.
As for the illustrations, they accurately show the hectic tone of most of the book. The illustrator, through their drawings, gave a unique personality to each goat. Every character was different and had their own visual quirks. It's important to have this element in a kids' book because then the characters stay separate, and don't blend together.
Overall, this book was fun, heartwarming, and encourages readers to think positively when met with a change of plans. Bravo!

1. My point of view
I genuinely like the illustrations. The plot is sweet with a friendly twist at the end. Some of the wording and rhyming are a bit clumsy and I would recommend a more simplistic approach.

2. Four-year-old daughter's point of view
My daughter got a bit bored, but it warrants a second read. The troll frightened her a bit, but after I explained that the troll was a friend of Gran goat she felt better about the character.

I would rate Goats Afloat by Lezlie Evans 3 out of 5

Loved the illustrations! Loved the story! Loved the ending! What a wonderful children's book.

But I especially loved the illustrations (kudos to Julia Patton/illustrator!) and all the fun details and signs. Nicely done Lezlie Evans, author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Two Lions Publishing for approving my request to read Goats Afloat in exchange for an honest review. 32 pages. expected publication May 6, 2025.

I plan to read with my 7 year old nephew when he visits at Thanksgiving. Can'twait.